Toowoomba council’s new Highfields town centre raises concerns from Bill Cahill as fire station remains controversial

Changes to a new town centre for one of Toowoomba’s fastest-growing regions has alarmed a veteran councillor as the backlash continues over one of its most controversial elements.

Concept art of the Highfields town centre master plan, which has been revamped by the Toowoomba Regional Council following a market-sounding report that saw input from developers.

A Toowoomba councillor has raised concerns about the development of the new Highfields town centre plan, as the backlash continues over key changes.

Long-term elected official and Highfields resident Bill Cahill has weighed into recent changes in the latest master plan for the project, which closed to public consultation on Monday.

It comes after business leaders and locals expressed serious problems with the perceived influence of developers on the planned town centre slated for land on Highfields Road near the middle of town.

A breakdown of the 2018 vs. 2025 Highfields town centre master plans.

The revamped plan, which sees reductions in higher-density housing and mixed-use commercial area, was influenced by a market-sounding report completed by JLL last year.

The report drew upon on the advice of members of the development industry who had experience in Highfields and Toowoomba, and concluded a number of elements of the plan would see no immediate returns.

This prompted a backlash from residents and groups like the Highfields Chamber of Commerce, who say this was contrary to the ethos of the original 2018 document.

Mr Cahill, who has been involved in the consultation process in Highfields, said the project should service the community’s future needs rather than just the present day.

Councillor Bill Cahill. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“This is more than a short-term financial gain and in my opinion it would be short-sighted for any council to do that,” he said.

“Why wouldn’t we land-bank areas for the benefit of the community that aren’t necessarily viable now, but as the centre develops could add to the finer-grained opportunities that make up a viable town centre, instead of just selling to a developer now?

“Personally, I have concerns about the diversity of feedback from respondents with experience in the development of commercial city centres.”

Just who JLL spoke to from the development industry is unclear, with the local branch of the sector’s lobby group denying it had any involvement in the market-sounding report.

‘About saving lives’: Fire station location divides community

Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts has defended the location of Highfields’ permanent fire station after it was controversially left in a revamped master plan of the community’s future town centre.

The 2025 version of the Highfields town centre plan will see the fire station remain on O’Brien’s Road and actually expanded into a full facility.

The existing site had been seen by many as a temporary solution, with the Queensland Fire Department reportedly looking at more than 20 other potential locations before opting to stay put.

Mr Watts said the decision was based on increasing the QFD’s ability to reach any part of Highfields quickly.

“This fire station is about saving lives and protecting property — when an emergency strikes, every second counts,” he said in a statement.

“The Queensland Fire Department undertook an exhaustive review of more than 20 possible sites before selecting the potential location for the upgraded Highfields Fire Station.

“This decision is not made lightly — it is based on expert advice and a commitment to ensuring our firefighters can respond as quickly and effectively as possible in an emergency.

“The Toowoomba Regional Council has sought community feedback on the Highfields Master Plan, and I will continue to ensure local voices are heard while prioritising what matters most — public safety.”

In meetings with stakeholders, the QFD had emphasised a need to reach as many houses and properties in Highfields within eight minutes.

Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts during a press conference in Toowoomba with the Premier, Friday, January 24, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

But Highfields resident and community organiser Lucinda Williams said the fire station currently only operated 12 hours a day, meaning crews would have to come from Toowoomba outside of those hours anyway.

“The big thing about that is during my research, we’ve identified the budget from 2024-25 included provisions for $2m to purchase a site in Highfields — the plan was to move it out of that site,” she said.

“So why are they changing direction and deciding they want to stay there?

“It’s a public safety issue leaving it near a town centre, especially when we’re encouraging more pedestrian and road traffic.

“The discussion is we wanted it moved away because we don’t want pedestrians and cyclists to be interacting with emergency vehicles.”